US bans imports of foreign-made robots, citing national security risks

The United States has banned imports of foreign-made robots to protect national security and critical infrastructure.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday announced a blanket ban on imports of new models of humanoid robots and four-legged quadruped robots. Inverter devices that connect renewable energy sources and batteries to power grid and data center equipment are also covered by the ban.

On the robot import ban, the FCC said data collected by advanced robotic devices "could be exploited by malicious actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence agencies, or remotely seize control of the robots."

On connected power inverters, the agency said foreign companies could use them to arbitrarily shut down inverters connected to power grids and data centers, collect and leak data, or exploit them in cyberattacks.

Beyond security concerns, the move also appears aimed at protecting the supply chain for the US AI industry.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the commission would fulfill its role in protecting America's critical supply chain "under the leadership of President Donald Trump," adding that "through this action, the FCC is doing just that by working closely with national security agencies."

The import ban applies to all foreign products regardless of origin, but Reuters assessed the measure as primarily targeting China. Reuters also reported that the ban is intended to pressure overseas robot manufacturers to relocate their production facilities to the United States.

However, the ban does not affect consumers' use of devices already purchased or the sale of previously approved models. Federal government purchases and use are also exempt, as are cases where manufacturers have received approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.